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Benzol



Member Since: 12 Jun 2017
Location: Perth
Posts: 36
Australia 
Towbar grumbles

G'day everyone
Checking the height of my newly aquired camper van and noticed the drawbar sits a bit too close to the ground when sitting on the tow ball. The van is built tough with 200mm deep drawbar channels so I thought to turn the tow bar upside down to get the extra height. Wrong! The towbar it too short so now the towball just about touches the bumper of the FL2.
Easy, just get a replacement towbar. Wrong again!
Land Rover in their lack of wisdom use a 40mm receiver for the towbar. Everything else on the road uses a 50mm receiver except for cheap light-weight cars from Asia.
It seems to me that LR, despite equiping the FL2 with great suspension, 4x4 capability and roadability, don't want us to tow anything more than a small garden trailer even though it is rated for 2000kg.
I'm now getting a new towbar made up that will legally fit and give the required clearance.
David Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Post #393219 26th Jun 2020 2:06 pm
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3landertwo



Member Since: 27 May 2020
Location: UK
Posts: 1127

I have never come across a 40mm receiver ??

32mm =1 1/4"

50mm = 2"

are you sure its not a detachable neck tow bar and not a true box receiver. ??

what I think you are looking for is this .....






on what you call the 40mm box, is there two semi circular cut outs. ?

Last edited by 3landertwo on 26th Jun 2020 2:27 pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #393220 26th Jun 2020 2:20 pm
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oldgeezer



Member Since: 09 Apr 2011
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 1302
United Kingdom 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Baltic Blue

Click image to enlarge

40mm ? !
I have no problem towing 1850 Kg with 150+ nose weight. No where near the ground.
in fact the whole outfit still sits almost level.
You have something seriously wrong or incorrect towbar

my old freely with 1750KG and fully loaded for France. No bother with tow ball height or clearance Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !
Post #393221 26th Jun 2020 2:24 pm
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3landertwo



Member Since: 27 May 2020
Location: UK
Posts: 1127

Click image to enlarge


Is this what you have on the towbar ? under the rear bumper ?
Post #393223 26th Jun 2020 2:36 pm
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ReggiePerrin



Member Since: 13 Mar 2013
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1273
England 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Lux Auto Firenze Red

The OP is discussing an Australian hitch and tow bar - are these things the same as our UK hitches (Alko /Winterhof) and tow bars?

Just seen this (for example)

https://editorial.pxcrush.net/caravancampi...height=683

Click image to enlarge

Post #393226 26th Jun 2020 3:40 pm
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3landertwo



Member Since: 27 May 2020
Location: UK
Posts: 1127

within the search I found this ......

https://www.freel2.com/forum/post283221.html

Aussie tow bar fixing.




and it states the hitch is actually a 40mm x 40mm box ????? its a LRA Class 3 hitch.

well i never !!
Post #393229 26th Jun 2020 4:01 pm
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3landertwo



Member Since: 27 May 2020
Location: UK
Posts: 1127

found this also - photo of towbar on a FL2

Click image to enlarge


as OP says, if you unbolt the 50mm ball, turn the bracket around 180deegs, the bracket wwill hit the bumper.
Post #393230 26th Jun 2020 4:24 pm
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Benzol



Member Since: 12 Jun 2017
Location: Perth
Posts: 36
Australia 

Well, I didn't expect those first two replies.
Attached photos of a 40mm box receiver on my FL2. Before you can say it must be some sort of special after-market hitch my FL2 was originally driven by an executive from the local LR dealers and is all LR.

Also the drawbar on my camper van. The van is built to take just about anything on Aussie roads and go anywhere the Freelander 2 can go. Not just pussy roads to France. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Post #393250 27th Jun 2020 1:50 am
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Stuartc



Member Since: 01 Dec 2014
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 2292
Australia 2015 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Aintree Green

Hi David,
Who in Perth are you getting a carrier made?
I’m wanting an adjustable carrier for the hitch receiver but the ones on the market here are only rated to 1800kgs whereas the L359 & hitch are rated to 2200kgs.
I could probably get away with the 1800kgs carrier but would prefer a higher rating if I can get someone to make one.
Thanks👍 MY15
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Post #393251 27th Jun 2020 2:47 am
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Benzol



Member Since: 12 Jun 2017
Location: Perth
Posts: 36
Australia 

Hi Stuart
Toms Towbars in Wangara. Really helpful on all sorts of issues. They had trouble sourcing the original weight 40mm stock but have worked it out to give me a towbar extended by about 60mm. Should be perfect.
We should get together sometime, I'm in Connolly and have a mate with a black 2012 in Inglewood. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Post #393252 27th Jun 2020 3:53 am
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Lightwater



Member Since: 21 Aug 2014
Location: Sydney Northern Beaches
Posts: 4906
Ukraine 2013 Freelander 2 2.0T SE Auto Fuji White

Benzol wrote:
Not just pussy roads to France.

In the LR manual for Australia you can have up 350kg towball weight, up to 100kph & reduce the extra payload by 100kg. But the practical maximum load is 250kg.

You do need to watch your rear axle load. It's an issue with basically every car.

Also watch the leavering distance load. As rough guide a factor of 1.4 so if you have 100kg on the towball, factor 140kg on the rear axle.


A month or so ago I saw a 40mm towbar socket on a RAM, it looked completely wrong! Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

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Post #393253 27th Jun 2020 4:13 am
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Benzol



Member Since: 12 Jun 2017
Location: Perth
Posts: 36
Australia 


Haven't got the hang of uploading photos.
 Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Post #393254 27th Jun 2020 4:40 am
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3landertwo



Member Since: 27 May 2020
Location: UK
Posts: 1127

Hi,

Yes I now understand you guys in Oz get a 40mm receiver.

Quite why is another matter, when the World has Standards.

you must understand those of us who live in the rest of the world have never come across this Oz standard before.


I live and I learn. Smile
Post #393259 27th Jun 2020 7:05 am
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ozjeff62



Member Since: 28 May 2018
Location: Sydney, NSW
Posts: 494
Australia 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Ipanema Sand

Well I'll be. I have to go measure my towbar hitch receiver now, although I'm confident it's aftermarket and therefore a real 50mm. MY11 SD4 SE Auto
Post #393314 28th Jun 2020 2:23 am
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 5020
United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red

When I was in VIC earlier this year I noticed the wheels used are caravans in Australia seem very different in offset compare with those Im use to seeing in the UK.
I presume the towbar systems used in Oz are based on those in the USA - they certainly seem to be of a more "utilitarian " in design, as are the caravans which often have a lot of checker-plate panels and a lot more ground clearance - better for getting into the bush Im sure.




Proper caravanning IMO Jules
Post #393326 28th Jun 2020 8:30 am
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